MISSISSIPPI: Let not our motto be 'bah! humbug!'

Published July 07, 2004 5:16 PM CDT

From the City Hall in Clinton to the state Board of Education in Jackson and on to the governor's mansion, our state leaders are acting as though they've forgotten what it's like to be a child.

The city of Clinton, upset over a beautiful, $5,000 Victorian-style tree house that unfortunately occupies a tree in the front yard of the Scott and Mary Welch family's house, so infuriated city officials that they've taken their zoning violation case against it all the way to the Mississippi Supreme Court.

In the meantime the Board of Education is considering recommending to the state's school districts that they cut out sports and band programs as districts try to pinch pennies in their efforts to compensate for a $45 million shortfall in state funding.

Gov. Haley Barbour in his usual blunt way of putting things has derided school districts that would spend money on sports facilities.

Such incidents as those make us wonder if the grinch that stole Christmas hasn't been whispering in the ears of government officials in Mississippi - not about stealing Christmas, but about stealing all the fun from childhood.

Tearing down a tree house for kids? Doing away with bands? No Friday night football? Who has ever heard of such?

Have the people who run this state forgotten that playing is an intrinsic part of childhood? That subjects like band and other forms of the arts are vitally necessary in helping children develop creativity? That sports activities develop teamwork and school spirit as well as tomorrow's leaders?

Has "bah! humbug!" become Mississippi's new state motto? Or is it that our politicians are trying out for roles in future sequels to "A Christmas Carol"?

The way they're headed, the only way they'd get anybody to vote for them again would be if they decided to run for the lead role as Uncle Scrooge.

And they may be too tightfisted for that.